Phalaenopsis orchid plant named &#39;PHALYFREP&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘PHALYFREP’, particularly characterized by having white flowers with a green-brown lip, 1 to 5 peduncles that are long and sturdy, leaves that are oblong, and is propagated by meristem tissue culture, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Phalaenopsis hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘PHALYFREP’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofPhalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis hybrid of theOrchidaceae family, commonly referred to as moth orchid, and hereinafterreferred to by the variety name ‘PHALYFREP’.

The new Phalaenopsis plant is the result of a naturally occurringmutation of Phalaenopsis hybrid ‘PHALUBIEN’ (unpatented) found by theinventor, in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands. The new Phalaenopsis plant wasdiscovered by the inventor in August 2010 in a group of plants of thePhalaenopsis variety ‘PHALUBIEN’. The new Phalaenopsis plant has a highnumber of peduncles and numerous attractive and unique white flowerswith a green-brown lip, suitable for potted plant production.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phalaenopsis plant by meristem tissueculture since 2012 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands, has demonstrated thatthe new variety reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics,as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successivegenerations.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety have been applied for in Europeon Sep. 30, 2014. ‘PHALYFREP’ has not been made publicly available orsold anywhere in the world more than one year prior to the filing dateof this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands and can be used todistinguish ‘PHALYFREP’ as a new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsisplant.

-   -   1) White flowers with a green-brown lip;    -   2) 1 to 5 peduncles;    -   3) Peduncle is long and sturdy; and    -   4) Shape of the leaf is oblong.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Phalaenopsis plant is illustrated by the accompanyingphotographs which show the overall plant habit including blooms, budsand foliage of the plant; the colors shown are as true as can bereasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. Thephotographs were taken in a greenhouse in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands,from 50-week old plants in February 2016. Colors in the photographs maydiffer from the color values cited in the detailed botanicaldescription, which accurately describe the actual colors of the newvariety.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit, including blooms, buds and foliageof ‘PHALYFREP’.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of a flower of ‘PHALYFREP’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up of the leaves of ‘PHALYFREP’.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘PHALYFREP’. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis have notbeen observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotypemay vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature,light intensity and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype. The chart used in the identification of colors describedherein is the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society,London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms ofordinary significance are used. The color values were determined under4000-6000 lux natural light in a greenhouse in Bleiswijk, TheNetherlands. Observations and measurements were made in February 2016 on50-week old plants which were planted from a nursery tray in 12centimeter (diameter) pots and grown in a greenhouse between 27° C. to29° C. for 30 weeks, continued by a cooling period of 8 weeks between18° C. to 20° C. and 12 weeks in a greenhouse of 21° C.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Orchidaceae.        -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrid.        -   Common name.—Phalaenopsis.        -   Variety name.—‘PHALYFREP’.-   Parentage: Naturally occurring mutation of ‘PHALUBIEN’ (unpatented).-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Meristem tissue culture.-   Roots:    -   -   Root description.—Greyed-green colored roots with lightly            branching lateral roots having light purple colored root            tips.-   Plant:    -   -   Commercial crop time to flowering.—Approximately 48 to 50            weeks from a rooted cutting to finish in a 12 cm pot.        -   Growth habit of peduncle.—Standard, green leaves, raceme to            panicle.        -   Height (from soil level to top of            inflorescence).—Approximately 46.0 cm to 56.0 cm.        -   Width (measured from leaf tips).—About 26.0 cm to 30.0 cm.        -   Vigor.—Strong.-   Leaves:    -   -   Mature leaves.—Quantity per plant: 9 to 11 leaves are            produced before flowering Length (fully expanded): 13.0 cm            to 15.0 cm Width: 6.0 cm to 7.0 cm Shape: Oblong Base shape:            Moderately elongated Apex: Rounded equal Leaf blade angle            with the petiole (measured from the horizontal position):            Between 25 degrees and 50 degrees Leaf margin: Entire Color:            Upper surface: RHS 147A Lower surface: RHS 146A Texture:            Rough Thickness: 2.0 mm to 2.2 mm Venation: Pattern:            Parallel Color of the midvein: Upper surface: RHS 147A Lower            surface: RHS 147B.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Quantity per plant.—1 to 5.        -   Number of flowers per peduncle.—9 to 16.        -   Length.—46.0 cm to 56.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—5.3 mm to 5.8 mm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Aspect.—Upright.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color.—Mix of brown (RHS 200A) with a touch of green (RHS            146B).        -   Internode length.—40.0 mm to 50.0 mm.        -   Callosities.—None.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Upright to slightly pendant, raceme to panicle            inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open            in succession beginning with the lowermost flower.        -   Inflorescence size.—Height (from base to tip): 250.0 mm to            270.0 mm.        -   Flowering time.—First flowers can be expected 10 to 11            months after planting in a 12 cm (diameter) pot.        -   Flower.—Height: 68.0 mm to 73.0 mm Diameter: 83.0 mm to 88.0            mm Depth of lip: 21.0 mm to 23.0 mm.        -   Flower longevity.—On the plant: 9 to 14 weeks.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Flower bud.—Average size: Large Length: 23.0 mm to 25.0 mm            Width: 19.0 mm to 21.0 mm Shape: Egg shaped Color: Light            green (RHS N144D) with a touch of greyed-red (RHS 182B to            182C).        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Open/free Shape: Semi-circular Apex:            Emarginated asymmetric Margin: Entire Length (from base to            tip): 38.0 mm to 40.0 mm Width: 46.0 mm to 48.0 mm Color            (when fully opened): Upper surface: Basic color: White (RHS            NN155D) Over color: Absent Lower surface: Basic color: White            (RHS NN155D) Over color: Light purple (RHS N80D).        -   Dorsal sepal.—Shape: Elliptic Apex: Slightly emarginated            symmetric Margin: Entire Length (from base to tip): 41.0 mm            to 43.0 mm Width: 28.0 mm to 30.0 mm Color (when fully            opened): Upper surface: Basic color: White (RHS NN155D) Over            color: Absent Lower surface: Basic color: White (RHS NN155D)            Over color: Light purple (RHS N75D) and diluted green (RHS            145D).        -   Lateral sepals.—Shape: Ovate Apex: Obtuse asymmetric Margin:            Entire Length (from base to tip): 44.0 mm to 46.0 mm Width:            25.0 mm to 27.0 mm Color (when fully opened): Upper surface:            Basic color: White (RHS NN155D) Over color: Light green at            the base and on the lower side of the lateral sepal (RHS            145C), diluted towards the apex (RHS 145D) Lower surface:            Basic color: White (RHS NN155D) Over color: Light purple            (RHS N75D) and light green (RHS 145C).        -   Labellum (lip).—Margin: Entire Whiskers: Present Length of            whiskers: 13.0 mm to 15.0 mm Color of whiskers: White (RHS            NN155D) Pubescence on the lip: Absent.        -   Lateral lobe.—Shape: Spatulate Length (from base to tip):            20.0 mm to 22.0 mm Width: 16.0 mm to 18.0 mm Color: White            (RHS NN155D) and green on one side (RHS 154B and 151B) with            stripes at the base (RHS 175B and 183B).        -   Apical lobe.—Shape: Triangular/trullate Length: 20.0 mm to            22.0 mm Width: 21.0 mm to 23.0 mm Color: White (RHS NN155C)            and green (RHS N144B and 151B) with a touch of brown (RHS            175B) at the base.        -   Callus.—Average size: Medium to large Height: 0.6 cm to 0.7            cm Length: 0.7 cm to 0.8 cm Width: 0.5 cm to 0.6 cm Color:            Yellow (RHS 14B); light yellow on the side (RHS 4C) with            greyed-orange stripes and dots (RHS 175A).        -   Reproductive organs.—Column: Length: 8.0 mm to 10.0 mm            Diameter: 5.8 mm to 6.0 mm Color: White (RHS NN155C)            Pollinia: Quantity: 2 Diameter: 0.8 mm to 1.0 mm Color:            Orange (RHS N25A) Ovary (part of pedicel with small ribs            towards the column): Length: 7.0 mm to 9.0 mm Diameter: 2.3            mm to 2.5 mm Pedicel: Length: 31.0 mm to 33.0 mm Diameter:            2.6 mm to 2.8 mm Color: Greyed-purple at the base (RHS            187A); mix of light green (RHS 146C and 144D) and light            greyed-purple (RHS 186D) towards the flower.-   Disease, pest, and stress resistance: No specific resistance or    susceptibility observed to pathogens and pests common to    Phalaenopsis.-   Fruit and seeds: Fruit and seed development has not been observed on    plants of the new Phalaenopsis.-   Comparison with parental and commercial varieties: ‘PHALYFREP’    differs from the parental variety ‘PHALUBIEN’ (unpatented) in that    ‘PHALYFREP’ has 9 to 11 leaves present on a 50-week old plant and an    average of 1 to 5 branches per plant, whereas ‘PHALUBIEN’ has 6 to 8    leaves present on a 50-week old plant and an average of 1 to 3    branches per plant. Additionally, ‘PHALYFREP’ has shorter, narrower    leaves than ‘PHALUBIEN’. ‘PHALYFREP’ differs from the commercial    variety ‘PHALBNIBE’ (unpatented) in that ‘PHALYFREP’ has whiskers    with white tips and a weak curvature of the lateral lobe, whereas    ‘PHALBNIBE’ has whiskers with yellow tips and a medium curvature of    the lateral lobe. Additionally, ‘PHALYFREP’ has shorter whiskers and    more narrow flowers than ‘PHALBNIBE’.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant named‘PHALYFREP’, substantially as described and illustrated herein.